I’ve had a hard time praying lately. I need help finding motivation. I do sometimes pray, but I’m also aware that my prayers aren’t being completed, and Allah may be displeased with me. I want to read the Quran, but I need to make my time efficient.
An Islamic community also holds two or three Islamic classes per month in the masjid. The location is near to ours, and we often visit. It’s a peaceful place in the evenings, during Maghreb time; after Sarah, the discussion is about Sahaba and Ulama’s habits and personalities.
I’m finding information regarding this topic. Where can I find reliable information in this digital world? jazakallah u khairan
ANSWER
Your routine should revolve around worshipping Allah. Create a list of your day-to-day tasks and list them from most important to the least. Prioritize the “must-dos” come first. Next, make your worship and prayers your highest priority.
Although you might not directly notice the adverse effects of not attending your salat and worship, the wording of Allah is found in the Quran. Also, follow the guidelines of Allah just as you would, for instance, the rules in your school or at any other time.
Consider a new way of eating, keep it consistent and be slow in your progress.
Salam Alaikom Dear Sister,
We thank you so much for reaching out. You’re saying that you can’t get sufficient motivation for praying. However, at the same moment, you feel guilty and want to learn more about the Quran and learn more.
Dear sister, you’re not alone in this struggle. Many of us experience fluctuations regarding the level of our work. There are always challenges, exams or schools, etc.–and sometimes we need more time or space to spend time in worship as we’d prefer to.
Alhamdulillah for reaching out to me because this indicates that you genuinely want to enhance your connection with Allah, and I’m sure you will be able to!
Let me give you some suggestions for building habits that aid you in staying focused and consistent.
Intention and Perspective
Set your goals by setting your intentions and establishing your perspective. You likely have the same routine each day. It is generally connected to your daily activities like school, lunch, or an activity in the afternoon, etc.
It’s all about your intention: what do you want to achieve?
Your Intention Counts: What Would You Like to Gain?
What you can do is to make your daily routine centred around worshipping Allah. This means you will do your everyday tasks in His name to the best of your ability.
For instance, you get up each morning, don’t you? Therefore, instead of waking up to go to school, you should get up hoping to pray and perform an early morning adhkar. If you eat lunch, think about how you can take good care of the body Allah gave you, and so on.
Create a new mindset where your top priority is ibadah.
I’d like you to list your daily chores and then mark them according to order, from the top to the bottom. Your “must-dos” come first. Next, put your worship and prayers on the top of your list. Everything else needs to be adjusted in line with the moment’s needs.
If you can centre your day and thoughts on Allah and Allah, you will realize that you will locate Him close to you throughout the day. He’s everywhere; all we have to do is to pay attention to Him:
“We have created man, and we are aware of what his soul is whispering to him, and we are closer to him than his Jugular vein.” (Quran 50:16)
Know More Allah
You could follow it by attempting to discover Allah more. How? Through His attributes and names, For instance. Take the time to study His names and their meanings, and think about His glory. Look up this collection, for example.
It is possible to be aware that God is the ultimate governing force in our lives. Everything you have, your rizq, your health, as well as the affection and love you receive from other people, etc.–are all from Him.
See around you and count your gratitude. We could be grateful to Him for all we observe around us! As a result, we could take a moment to remember God before enjoying all the blessings.
I’m sure you stick to a set of routines daily (Prayer ), and you feel pressured to follow these things, don’t you?
For instance, you take your time brushing your teeth daily, Trying to make it to school on time, etc.
Why do we follow? We’ve learned that ignoring them could have negative consequences, and we’d like to stay clear of “punishment.”
Sister, although we may not be able to directly observe the adverse effects of not performing our salat or worship, the word “promise” of Allah is contained in the Quran, and we have to follow the rules of Allah with the same seriousness as we do for instance, the guidelines at school or elsewhere.
My dear sister, I encourage you to make a decision to begin your day by recollecting Allah. You’ll see how it acts as a shield and assist you in being more conscious of Allah throughout your day.
Suggested Read : Prayer For Someone You Love To Come Back
Habit Building
According to research, it takes approximately 30 to 60 days to establish the habit of a new one.
How do you develop an exercise habit in 30 days?
Thus, start with something fresh, such as adding a dua and dhikr following your morning salad. Make sure to do it for at least the entire month; it will be a habit in the name of Allah.
You don’t have to invest an additional thirty minutes in the rug. You need to think about an extra two or three minutes first.
The most important is that you keep your consistency. If, for any reason, you don’t get it early in the morning, choose to pray following one of the other prayers for that day. Remember, your priority!
The Prophet urged us to slow down in the extra worship we perform. This means less is more when you stick to the principle. Just set goals that are realistic and gradually increase the time spent studying.
Some examples:
Learn a verse every day. Don’t repeat it.
Take a page from the Quran each day.
Take 5 minutes to do adhkar each day. You can do 1 minute following every salat.
2 rakats of voluntary service per day.
One lesson per week in the mosque.
One dua a day.
And and so on. If you feel at ease with a particular form of worship, then you can expand it, say two verses per day, or move to a different type of worship. It’s your choice.
If you cannot attend for a reason or did not make it into your regular schedule, make a promise to return at a later date, precisely the same day. This will ease the guilt.
Bad Habits
You also inquired for help breaking habits. If you can increase your positive routines, they will aid in reducing those “bad ones.”
Additionally, good actions remove bad behaviour, and you could be rewarded even if you don’t do what you planned to do:
“Allah declares: “If my slave is planning to commit something wrong, Do not note it down until he does it. If he does it, you write it down exactly as it happened. If he doesn’t do it to My Sake, then write it as a deed done for him. If he plans to perform an act of kindness and fails to complete it, then record it as a deed of goodwill for him (in the form of reward). If he succeeds in the future, record it for him ten times up seven hundred or more times (in rewards).” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
Good Friends
Sister, you might have heard the wisdom of prophets about the importance of righteous friends. This is particularly relevant when you live in the West with Muslims around.
If your family members and others around you do not keep in mind Allah and are not observant of worship, it’ll reduce your motivation to establish your goals.
Therefore, you should look for people who inspire you and with whom you can encourage each other.
Talk about your favourite dhikr, learn an entire verse or be there for one another.
In this way, your everyday routine as the life of a Muslim will be something you’re proud of instead of hiding it from people who do not know what it means. There are online sisters groups for those who don’t have any close friends.
Suggested Read: Muslim prayers for healing
Learn Online
I don’t know the country you’re from or what your primary language is. If you reside in the non-Muslim world, it is that with English, more information is available. Is this an alternative for you?
If yes, alhamdulillah. There are reputable websites with books, articles, and online courses or degrees at low costs. For articles on the internet, you can use a translator to appreciate the content in a language you can comprehend.
Here are some resources about the Sahaba on our website: Strong Female Companions, Seven Black Companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and Three Young Companions empowered through the Prophet (PBUH).
Also, other books Here or here.
May Allah help you, sister,
More information from Orsolya Ilham O.:
Help Me to navigate This World Obsessed with Beauty
My arrogant, My Arrogant. The Pityful Way of Imaan…Please Please
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